diff --git a/scripts/gen_compile_commands.py b/scripts/gen_compile_commands.py
index 49fff0b0b385..f37c1dac8db4 100755
--- a/scripts/gen_compile_commands.py
+++ b/scripts/gen_compile_commands.py
@@ -31,13 +31,13 @@ def parse_arguments():
 
     Returns:
         log_level: A logging level to filter log output.
-        directory: The directory to search for .cmd files.
+        directory: The work directory where the objects were built.
         output: Where to write the compile-commands JSON file.
     """
     usage = 'Creates a compile_commands.json database from kernel .cmd files'
     parser = argparse.ArgumentParser(description=usage)
 
-    directory_help = ('Path to the kernel source directory to search '
+    directory_help = ('specify the output directory used for the kernel build '
                       '(defaults to the working directory)')
     parser.add_argument('-d', '--directory', type=str, help=directory_help)